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Chopstix
Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Location: Nowon Seoul
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:47 am Post subject: Hagwon or University teaching |
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I have been here for three months now and find it very tiring at times working fifty hours a week and teaching kinders in the mornings. I have an Education degree with an English major and could probably teach at the University level. Has anybody out there experienced both situations? Pros and cons would be helpful! |
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the_beaver

Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 5:03 am Post subject: Re: Hagwon or University teaching |
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Hank the tank wrote: |
I have been here for three months now and find it very tiring at times working fifty hours a week and teaching kinders in the mornings. I have an Education degree with an English major and could probably teach at the University level. Has anybody out there experienced both situations? Pros and cons would be helpful! |
As a general rule hagwons bite and universities rock. |
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bithy75

Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Location: Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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I've wondered about this too. I've asked people about working in universities here, and I've gotten mixed reviews. Basically, they say that the schedule is great (you have much more free time), but the teaching is not that rewarding. You have huge classes and the students aren't that motivated. I don't know if this is true....but it's what I've heard. |
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gi66y
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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Universities are definitely more prestigious to work for, so they'd look better on a resume. Though, I've looked into it and the pay seems ridiculously low. You work fewer hours maybe, but it doesn't seem worth it.
I think teaching adults would be fun, but I wonder how different they are from the middle and high school kids I've taught that just sit there like zombies staring blankly at you. I really enjoy teaching my kids(grade 4,5,6 are my favorities), I've never taught kindergarten mind you, that seems a little like hell though.
If you're working 50 hours a week, I'd hope you're getting paid a lot. Remember that there are good and bad hagwons. At mine, I have less than 4 teaching hours a day (anything more is overtime) in the afternoon and evening. No split shifts, no weekends, and our base pay is about 400 to 500K more than University positions I've seen posted (for those who only have a Bachelor's). Not to mention single housing in a brand new building. This is why, I've signed on for a third year.
If you have all the credentials, shop around for your next contract. University or Hagwon, but remember not all are created equal. |
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the_beaver

Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 3:15 am Post subject: |
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gi66y wrote: |
Universities are definitely more prestigious to work for, so they'd look better on a resume. Though, I've looked into it and the pay seems ridiculously low. You work fewer hours maybe, but it doesn't seem worth it.
I think teaching adults would be fun, but I wonder how different they are from the middle and high school kids I've taught that just sit there like zombies staring blankly at you. I really enjoy teaching my kids(grade 4,5,6 are my favorities), I've never taught kindergarten mind you, that seems a little like hell though.
If you're working 50 hours a week, I'd hope you're getting paid a lot. Remember that there are good and bad hagwons. At mine, I have less than 4 teaching hours a day (anything more is overtime) in the afternoon and evening. No split shifts, no weekends, and our base pay is about 400 to 500K more than University positions I've seen posted (for those who only have a Bachelor's). Not to mention single housing in a brand new building. This is why, I've signed on for a third year.
If you have all the credentials, shop around for your next contract. University or Hagwon, but remember not all are created equal. |
But, my university students are okay (after I whip them into shape) , I have a 12-hour base work week with lots of chance for overtime and I get 5 months vacation.
If I worked 20 hours a week I'd get over 3 mil. |
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TECO

Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 3:46 am Post subject: |
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Seems like those Univ. jobs out there with 5 months vacation and low contact hours are becoming fewer and fewer.
Hold on to that one, Beaver, 'cause it looks like things are changing. |
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the_beaver

Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 4:09 am Post subject: |
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TECO wrote: |
Seems like those Univ. jobs out there with 5 months vacation and low contact hours are becoming fewer and fewer.
Hold on to that one, Beaver, 'cause it looks like things are changing. |
Amen. I'm not letting go of this and I hope it doesn't let go of me. |
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tokki

Joined: 26 Jul 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 4:15 am Post subject: |
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Looks like someone is bragging. |
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the_beaver

Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 4:17 am Post subject: |
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tokki wrote: |
Looks like someone is bragging. |
That's the fastest you've ever been on the uptake. |
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tokki

Joined: 26 Jul 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 4:29 am Post subject: |
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the_beaver wrote: |
tokki wrote: |
Looks like someone is bragging. |
That's the fastest you've ever been on the uptake. |
Whats the point of bragging? Is it to make yourself feel better? |
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the_beaver

Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 4:34 am Post subject: |
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tokki wrote: |
Whats the point of bragging? Is it to make yourself feel better? |
Of course. |
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ajuma

Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 5:29 am Post subject: |
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Uni's can be great, depending on class size of course! You don't have to say "Sit down, shut up!" But often, you have to say "WAKE UP!!!"
Hagwons can also be great... I've worked at a couple of really good one's. You see a lot more progress in kids that you see every day as opposed to uni students that you see once a week.
50 hours a week?????? Where the he** are you working??? Almost all hagwons are 30! |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 5:35 am Post subject: |
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gi66y wrote: |
I think teaching adults would be fun, but I wonder how different they are from the middle and high school kids I've taught that just sit there like zombies staring blankly at you. I really enjoy teaching my kids(grade 4,5,6 are my favorities), I've never taught kindergarten mind you, that seems a little like hell though.
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The difference between middle school zombies and adult students (in an adult hogwon at least) is night and day. While adult students may not particularly enjoy studying English, they do understand why they are doing it, and it shows. I've yet to have to discipline or wake up my adult students, or do anything overly special to keep them studying.
Work no longer feels like war. In fact, it no longer even really feels like work. It feels like I'm hosting crappy cocktail parties instead. |
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Chopstix
Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Location: Nowon Seoul
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 5:56 am Post subject: |
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I really appreciate all of the information you can get on this site and for my question in particular. I am at a school where we work from 9am until 7:30 three days a week and 9am until 6:40 two days a week. We do have some prep time- an hour and a half and it is close to three million but I still feel with the long hours that the money isn't worth the stress - especially 4 hours of kinders!!! I am looking into getting a release down the road by immigration or maybe even my hagwon if they are nice. I feel that University would look good on my resume as well and would like to actually see some of Seoul instead of being so exhausted a the end of the week!!! |
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wylde

Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:04 am Post subject: |
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i have found adults the most interested students ever..
take this into account....
they choose to study
they pay the bill
they wont come to class and pay for it too if they dont want to study or learn
i had trouble keeping up with my adult classes... they asked question after question on thing i forgot about 10 years ago.
adults are the best students 1 can have imo. |
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